Die for making wood type



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. OQSETGHELL.

DIE FOR MAKING WOOD TYPE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME.

No. 875.008. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheef 2. A

G. O. SETOHELL. DIE FOR MAKING WOOD TYPE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME.

No. 375,008 Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

8 IIIIIIIIIIIII 'tion as applied to such use.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. SETCHELL,.OF NORYVICH, CONNECTICUT.

DIE FOR MAKING WOOD TYPE. AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,008, dated December 20, 1887.

Serial No. 231,482. (No model.)

and described in the following specification,

reference being had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings.

My invention is in that class of dies used for impressmg desired figures in or on the surfaces of such semi-solid substances as wood, papiermaeh, compressed leather, &c., and is especially usefulin theproduction ofwood printingtypes. I shall therefore describe said inven- Solid steel handout dies have been tried heretofore for this particular purpose with a moderate degree of success; but when the endless variety of styles demanded by the market is considered, the enormous expense to be met has prevented such dies from coming into practical use.

My purpose in this present invention is to provide a die which shall embody the strength and sharpness of outline of a solid steel die, but which may be quickly produced without the aid of skilled labor required in the pro duction of such handout dies.

To illustrate my invention more clearly I have annexed hereto two sheets ofdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete die of my new construction; and Fig. 2, a detached view of the steel center section, which forms an important feature of said die. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the die shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a crosssection on line a m of the same figure. In Fig. 5 I have shown a Variety of untrimmed types, together with the respective steel centers necessary to produce such forms. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of my die-holders (hereinafter described) having placed in position thereon the steel ribs and center punch which are to form the raised operative portions of the complete die. Said Fig. 6 is intended to explain my method of securing said steel portions when aboutto pour in the metal for the supportingbloek. Fig. 7 shows the same placed within a flask or mold and ready for the molten metal. Fig. 8 represents a finished type, and Fig. 9 illustrates a simple machine for using dies of my new form to produce type-blanks.

My die may be briefly described as a block of type-metal or similar alloy having set therein steel punches conforming in size, shape, and relative positions to the form of type which it is desired to make.

I have not, as a rule, found it practicable to press back or upset the entire surface of a block at a single operation to leave the complete raised letter; but I have found that it is practicable to both outline the letter by die portions of general rib form aud to impress the centers and those acute angular portions which heretofore have been trimmed by hand after the greater portion of the letter has been cut on so-called pantographmachines em ployed for that purpose.

In the production of this new form of die'I have called into use such pantographmachines, and with their help have perfected a simpleplan, which I will describe in detail, by means of which I am able to produce metallic impression-dies identical in outline with the patterns from which they are made. Blocks of type-wood, after having received an impression from such dies, may then be placed in the pantograph-maehine and the surplus stock around the letter quickly routed off, leaving a perfect type with sharp clean edges, angles, and curves, requiring no handfinishing.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that I have made use of a die for producing a Gothic letter A to explain my invention.

The reference-letter (it indicates a steel plate having one edge shaped to conform to that portion of the letter which is to be recessed or pressed back from the printing-surface of the type. These plates at vary in shape according to theletter to be made, several different forms being shown in Fig. 5, and are of such height that they project above or beyond the face of the surrounding block of type-metal b a sixteenth of an inch, or thereabout. That portion of plate a which is inclosed and embraced by the surrounding metal 6 is preferably drilled or cutv away, as at 0, so that said metal may enter and assist in retaining the plate in proper position.

(2 d represent strips of thin sheet metal corresponding in height with platesa and shaped to conform to the outline of the letter. When about to make a die for any particular letteras, forinstance, the A here showna block of type-Wood is placed in a pantograph-machine and a very small cutter is run around the outline and central portions of said letter. These outlined blocks (which I have hereinafter termed my die-holders) are substantially like the unfinished type-blanks y in Fig. 5 when they leave the pantograph-machine.

Within the narrow channel which marks the outline of the letter the strips of sheet steel dare entered, and within the recessed central portion plate a is placed. These steel portions are then pressed firmly down into the said die-holder, (see Fig. 6,) and the device thus formed is inclosed by walls 0, which are securely clamped about it to form a mold to receive the molten metal. After pouring and cooling the type-metal,the walls a are removed and the die-holder pulled off from the face of the metal block, leaving the complete die with steel portions projecting, as in Fig. 1.

It will now be obvious that if the (lie thus formed is pressed into a block of wood the imprint made by the projecting portions will be identical with that in the die-holder used to support the steel portions in the mold, as above described. The blocks thus impressed (which I term type-blanks) may then be placed in the same machine which cut the original die-holder and the surplus stock quickly trimmed off, leaving the type, as in Fig. 8, ready for printing.

The letter A is a good example of the perfection which may be reached by my new method, as it shows a very acute angle and several approximately square corners in the depressed center,which have heretofore always been trimmed out by hand, so far as I am familiar with the art of wood-type making; but with my new form of impression-dies such angles are as easily made as circles, right lines, or open angles. I

Referring to the sectional Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the steel portions which are to perform the punching or impressing extend through the block of type-metal b, so that they may find a solid backing in the press,instead of depending entirely on the surrounding type-metal for support. Said type-metal is only intended as a cheap means for retaining the steel portions in their proper positions and for holding them in the press or machine in which they are used.

In order to establish a system which will dispense with the separate adjustment of the several dies of a font, which otherwise would vary in width, I prefer to make the metal blocks of all the dies of afont of the width of the W, or widest letter. The punches and ribs are then located relatively to one edge of the block and occupy more or less of the face of said block,according to the letter. When any die so formed is placed in the press and a piece of type-wood is also placed against a suitable strip or gage on the bed of the press, as in Fig. 9, said wood and die register'perfectly without further adjustment.

The several steps necessary to the successful production of a die of my new construction may be summed up as follows: First, a desired type is outlined on ordinary type-wood in a type-cutting machine and the center trimmed out; second, thin ribs bent to proper shape are adjusted in the outline channels and steel punches fitted into the central depressions; third, the device thus formed is placed in a mold and molten metal poured in to support and retain the steel portions; fourth, the wooden die-holder is removed from the die.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. An impression-die consisting of a rect angular block of fusible metal having located therein and projecting therefrom punches of hard metal (whose impression-faces are in the same plane) and extending through said block flush with its rear face, the projecting portions of said punches conforming in shape, size, and relative position to the centers and outline of the desired letter, all being combined substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The within-described method of producing impression-dies of the class referred to, consisting of, first, cutting and outlining a type-block to form a die-holder, as described; second, of forcing into the cut-away portions of said block hard metal punches conforming in size and shape to said cutaway portions; third, of pouring molten metal around the shanks of said punches, and, fourth, of removing the said die-holder.

GEORGE O. SETGHELL. 

